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Tuesday, 22 September 2015

Attachment

A few more pictures of the new fiddle yard, showing how it's attached to the layout. I'd managed to make it the same width of Awngate (20% by design 80% luck I think), so I was able to use the split-hinge method. These make a very strong and rigid join, provide good alignment, and are quick and easy to join and disconnect.

One hinge is attached to the back of the layout, quite high up, and at the front another was attached lower down - this explains the "pillar" at the front corner. I removed the "wing" from Awngate to fit it - it will be refitted over the top.

The original fiddle yard made electrical contact via wire wipers touching contact pads on the layout, so it made sense to use the same method for the new fiddle yard. I've used strips of brass, though I'm not convinced they are strong enough, but seem to work for now.

Finally a view through the fiddle yard towards the layout, I've allowed plenty of finger space between each track. The front track is aligned, meaning the back of the deck is only just clear of the wall to the right.

Yes they don't seem to be the accepted "proper" way of doing it, yet I think they are a good engineering solution as well as being easy to fit and effective in use. They should provide as good alignment as dowels, and make a stronger join than bolts - I can lift one end of the layout and there's no flex at the join. They are cheap too!

I do think you need to use large ones - these are 3", but I know folks that have used small ones and complained they've not been effective.

Welcome to my Blog

If you are interested in model railways, particularly in narrow gauge, or small (micro) layouts, then I hope you will find this site interesting. I try to update it periodically with news of my current models and layouts, and anything else model-railway related (and sometimes not!). I usually model in 009 scale (1:76 or 4mm/ft using 9mm gauge track), although I have recently dabbled in 014 (1:43 or 7mm/ft on 14mm gauge track) as well. For more on my current and past layouts click the the links to the pages below. If you have any comments or feedback, do let me know!

About Me

I have been building model railways since I was a teenager, mostly in 009 scale though I have also worked in 00, and more recently 014.
I am a member of the 009 society (which is highly reccommended if you model in 009 or similar) and of the local area group of the society in Sussex, the Sussex Downs group.
Away from model railways, I am a chartered engineer working in the automotive industry, I am married with two small children to occupy most of my free time, and I am involved in the PA and technical things at my church. So I don't get a lot of time for model railway building!